JIS Services

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) has reported that electricity has been restored to some critical areas in Kingston and Montego Bay, even as the majority of the island is still without power supply. Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Corporate Communications Manager at the JPSCo, Winsome Callum said that up to this morning, about five per cent of total demand for electricity was being met. She pointed out that electricity has been restored at Nuttall, Andrews Memorial, University, Kingston Public, Victoria Jubilee, St. Josephs, Cornwall Regional and Bustamante Children’s Hospitals. Miss Callum added that electricity was also restored to the Sangster International Airport and pointed out that the JPSCo was working to restore power to the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston. She pointed out that electricity had been restored to some commercial areas in Montego Bay and Kingston, including downtown Kingston and surrounding areas, Cross Roads and New Kingston. Up to this morning, she said efforts were being made to restore power in other areas in Kingston, Montego Bay and St. Catherine. The Communications Manager noted that 50 per cent of the assessment process has been completed so far, with more than 500 power lines destroyed by Hurricane Ivan. She said it is expected that the assessment would be completed by the end of today (September 13). “While we continue with the assessment, we will, at the same time, be restoring supplies to those areas with the least damage,” she said. Making an appeal to customers for their patience, Miss Callum pointed out that the process of restoring electricity was very complex. “Persons may see the poles standing with minimal damage, but the infrastructure that takes the electricity to their community may have been damaged,” she pointed out. She added that while there was extensive damage to the distribution network, minimal damage was done to the various generating plants. Miss Callum said that complete restoration of power was dependent on the extent of the damage in some areas and the accessibility of those areas by JPSCo workmen.